AW: [meteorite-list] RE: Ad ebay meteorites

[MARK BOSTICK]

Hello Jorn, Martin and list,

Jorn wrote, "Regarding the ongoing discussion on Dhofar vs. NWA pairings: to 
me, the pairing
situation with NWA is a bit like it is with some places in Antarctica - 
hundreds
of meteorite pieces were picked up in glacial morains..."

I was not making an NWA vs Dhofar case.  I do not think I brought up NWA in 
my e-mails, but rather was commenting on meteorites in high collection 
areas.  In the case of NWA, they are not all "collected" there...but rather 
purchased.  My comment was pretty simple.  That one can not assume that they 
have a Dhofar "main mass" that is not paired with another Dhofar "main 
mass", because it has a different number.  As I also stated, I do not see 
this as a problem.  I think most understand that "main mass" refers to the 
largest piece of that number.  I do agree this is somewhat confusing at 
times.  But it gets confusing outside of high collection areas at times as 
well.

Examples from my own collection.  I have the Veevers "main mass".  I think 
most would not call this the main mass, as it is quite obvious the original 
meteorite, that formed the crater, was much larger.

Another unusual, is Matteo's Tessera in my collection.  Lets ignore the 
history for a moment and consider the main mass issue only.  I have the 
largest piece from the largest stone, which happens to be the smaller then 
the largest complete stone currently.  Is this a main mass?  I think not.

We must understand that main mass is more of a collector and curator term 
then a scientific term.

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
www.meteoritearticles.com